New initiatives Article

Earlier this month the National launch of this year’s summer drink drive campaign. The North West launch on Friday 20th July marked the start of a period where Road Safety Units and partnering agencies joined forces to raise awareness and challenge attitudes on the controversial issues of drink driving.

Halton Road Safety Unit have teamed up with their CSRP partners- Cheshire Fire Service and Cheshire Police - to run a high profile drink drive campaign throughout the summer months in the borough.

This years campaign is targeting those ‘just the one’ drink drivers. Those who believe its okay to have a pint or two then get behind the wheel. Whilst there are many drivers out there who think its acceptable to drink large volumes of alcohol and still drive it appears there are many more out there having ‘just the one’ and driving because they may not be aware that that even one pint is enough to take you over the limit or perhaps more importantly increase their likelihood of being involved in a collision.

The aim of this campaign is to dispel any of these misconceptions in a light hearted manner- the focus being to educate them as opposed to lecturing them.

The campaign involves a mobile bar which will serve alcohol free drinks – each individual will be given a small questionnaire to complete – every person completing a questionnaire will receive a CSRP funded FIT-KIT. The kit consists of a swim/gym bag and inside will be a sports water bottle and a locker coin fob. These items will be liveried up with alcohol unit information as well as contact details for the road safety team and the CSRP website.

Alongside the Alcohol-Free-Bar there will be displays featuring relevant information about drink driving. Drink will not be the only intoxicating substance discussed –there is a worrying trend that driving under the influence of drugs is on the increase and this does not just end with illegal drugs but extends to prescription drugs as well easily obtained over the counter drugs.

Cheshire police are moving forwards with this trend to keep on top of the problem- there are now specially trained officers who can perform the roadside Field Impairment Test (FIT test) to detect if a person may be under the influence.

One of the displays features the stages of this FIT test and the representatives at the bar will challenge participants to have a go at these tests- making it more realistic with the use of ‘beer goggles’ which simulate the effects of alcohol impairment.

Young males are the focus of this campaign- as although they hold only a small percentage of all licences held they are disproportionately represented in the casualty statistics. The campaigns will de delivered initially in the gyms and. leisure centres in the borough of Halton where it is hoped will hit many of our target audience. The establishments involved are: JJB Widnes, Kingsway Leisure Centre, Stadium Fitness, Fitness First Runcorn as well as Brookvale Recreation Centre. It is hoped that by running this campaign at peak evening times it will reach the largest possible audience of young males.

Involved in this campaign with the Road Safety Unit are; Cheshire Fire Service personnel, Cheshire Police, and the campaign is supported and funded through the Cheshire Safer Roads Partnership.

This campaign has only been possible to the great support from all those involved;
• Cheshire Police,
• Cheshire Fire Service,
• Walkers Crisps distribution centre- Birchwood have supplied us with bar snacks,
• ASDA Stores in Runcorn and Widnes have supplied us with disposable cups and soft drinks.
• Waiting to hear from LIDL distribution centre that may be supplying us with further supplies.
• JJB Widnes,
• DC Leisure Centres- Kingsway Leisure Centre & Brookvale Recreation Centre
• Fitness First Runcorn
• Stadium Fitness.

The campaign has been funded through CSRP’s Innovation fund.

The campaign will launch at Fitness First Runcorn on Thursday 2nd August 2007 at 17:00.

Press are invited to come along for photo’s etc.

Please contact Louise Shannon or Lisa Scott on 0151 4717365 for more information.

Louise.Shannon@halton.gov.uk
Lisa.scott@halton.gov.uk